Happy anniversary – but this is an unusual anniversary. It is five years to the day since Peter’s official diagnosis of early onset dementia. It seems a good moment to reflect on all the remarkable things he has achieved since that dark day and the depression which followed on its heels:
Cycled across the country from Wales to Suffolk
Cycled 300 miles on a penny farthing
Cycled 1,600 miles in three months for Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK)
Raised well over £20,000 for Young Dementia UK and ARUK by these challenges Appeared on Channel Four
Appeared in several local newspapers and two national cycling magazines
Nominated and made the top three for the Cycling UK Charity Initiative Award
Given live radio and TV interviews
Created a Facebook page which has nearly 900 followers, a YouTube Channel with over 600 subscribers and a Twitter Account which is followed by 600+ people
Made 104 videos discussing all aspects of Alzheimer’s which is followed world wide and used as part of the curriculum in some schools in America
Delivered many talks and presentations to local charities and organisations
Opened the eyes and hearts of many, many people and demonstrated that life is not over with a dementia diagnosis – it’s just a little different
Created some amazing poetry through his descriptions of living with his dementia monster
And then there’s the little matter of the book, Slow Puncture, which will be published late September
All this – and more to come which we can’t yet post (ooh who doesn’t like a mystery) but most of all Peter wants to thank Teresa and Kate and family and friends for their support and love. As he says, a diagnosis of dementia is a diagnosis for the family. We are in this together!
Comments